All Black fan Tim Cronin from RugbyBoots.net looks at their win in Murrayfield
It was a strange Test Match between Scotland and New Zealand on the weekend, and one that underlined to me the importance of fundamental skills. Despite notching up 22 points against a side they have often struggled to score a single try against, the Scots will be frustrated by many aspects of their performance, while the World Champions will certainly have plenty of 'work-ons' ahead of their three remaining games on tour. Both teams would do well to focus on the basics of the game as they regroup.
Scotland's chances of success against the All Blacks, no matter how slim they may have been, relied on them getting everything right on the day, as well as getting a bit of luck. They got that piece of luck early on, when Matt Scott intercepted a Dan Carter pass and sent Tim Visser away for the encounter's first try, but the home side let themselves down when it came to the fundamentals of the game.
The task ahead of the brave Scotsmen was a big enough one as it was, without misjudging two kickoffs, under-performing in the scrum, and missing one on one tackles. Sure, the All Blacks can be tough to tackle at the best of times, but these were instances where the defenders got to the player and put themselves in a position to shut down the move, only to fail in the execution of the tackle. On more than one occasion this led directly to tries.
The Scots also showed that they have a long way to go developing well rounded players, a fact emphasised in the 24th minute when, with an overlap out wide and a blatant try-scoring opportunity in the offering, prop Geoff Cross opted to straighten and go in to contact. In this day and age, no matter how low the number on the back of your shirt may be, you need to be able to recognise opportunities when they arise, and possess the basic skills to allow your side to capitalise on those opportunities. The All Blacks went on to show how beneficial it can be when forwards also possess the ability to pass the ball, scoring a flood of points just before the half-time buzzer, many of which relied on tight-forwards shovelling the ball quickly along the line.
But the All Blacks were by no means perfect when it came to execution of the basics either. Despite the fact that their blistering start and their commitment to attacking rugby paid off, effectively dispatching the Scots before the first half was over, I can't help but wonder whether that approach to this game helps them at all moving forward, with sterner opposition on the horizon.
Sure, they showed flair and x-factor, but I would have liked to see the All Blacks crush the Scots tactically first, as they will invariably be required to do against both England and Wales later in the tour. It would have been nice to see them look to control territory a little before cutting lose, kicking for position and exerting some dominance in the set pieces. Of course, they simply didn't need to do that on this occasion, but a sound kicking game around the park and the ability to win their own lineouts and dominate in the scrums will be crucial as the tour unfolds. The fact is, they didn't plan on doing this. Dan Carter's boot was on fine form, and he was back to his very best conducting the side, so they had the necessary tools to dicate terms anyway they wanted. That they chose to throw the ball around from the opening moments suggests they never genuinely respected the challenge the Scots posed.
But the visitors did put on a clinic when it came to one core skill, and that was 'catching and passing'. The bulk of the AB's tries came not through unstoppable individual brilliance, but simply by creating space out wide, and relying on the skills of players 1-15 to quickly transfer the ball and put players in to space. In fact, due to flawless execution by the tourists, many of their tries were made to look ridiculously easy, yet at the heart of almost all of them were attributes players begin working on when they're 6 years old.
Sure, the teams that succeed at international level possess that special something; that x-factor, that game-breaking player, that ability to turn a game in a single moment. But there still has to be a solid foundation, based on core skills such as catching, passing and kicking, as well as a sound set piece. Until teams like Scotland can front in the big games, keep their composure and get the basics right, not to mention produce players who are fluent in all aspects of the game regardless of the position they play, they'll struggle to foot it when the big boys come to town.
As for the All Blacks, I have no doubt that they continually revise their core skills, and those endless handling drills are really starting to pay off. They just need to be mindful that sometimes, against some sides, they may need to be a little more conservative, at least initially, until they wear their opposition down. Fortunately for them, it didn't really matter this time.
Tim Cronin is a Rugby fan and full time writer based in the rubble of the Canterbury Crusaders’ home town, Christchurch. Tim is a part of the Pukeko Sportsteam, where his role is watching, writing, and complaining about all things rugby.
